Swansboro, sometimes called the "Friendly City by the Sea", is a town of 1,426 people (as of 2000) in Onslow County, North Carolina, between the White Oak River and the Intracoastal Waterway. The town was incorporated in 1783, and named for Samuel Swann, a former Speaker in the North Carolina legislature. It's on the western border of the popular Crystal Coast tourist region, and is often considered to be unofficially part of the region. The town's main attractions are its beautiful waterfront views and its quaint downtown, filled with boutiques, shops and delicious restaurants.

Swansboro is located on NC-24, about half an hour east of Jacksonville and just across the White Oak River from Cape Carteret. If you're coming from Raleigh, the quickest route is to take I-40 to Kenansville (exit 373) and then follow US-258/NC-24 past Jacksonville.

Bicentennial Park, at the base of the Highway 24 bridge, gives visitors a chance to fish in the White Oak River or relax and watch the water. There's also a statue of Otway Burns, a local privateer who built the first steamboat in North Carolina.

Hammocks Beach State Park. On Bear Island. Secluded beaches for picnicking, sunbathing, swimming, hiking, fishing and shelling. Loggerhead turtle nests can be viewed as well. 14 primitive backpack campsites, 3 primitive group campsites, 4 sites for canoe campers. A passenger ferry runs to the island between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but pets are not allowed onboard.

The main downtown area is along Front Street, which features numerous shops, restaurants and historic buildings.

Aquaculture Dude Ranch, 334 Journey's End Lane, +1 910-326-5106. Offers ecology tours into the Croatan National Forest, and has a dock where you can dig for clams, dip for crabs, catch shrimp and oysters, and set fish traps. A shellfish hatchery, along with the attached four-bedroom bed-and-breakfast, was destroyed by fire in 2004.

If you want to bring your own boat for fishing or cruising, Swansboro has three marinas:

One Saturday in mid-March, the Rotary Civic Center puts on the Swansboro Rotary Oyster Roast[dead link] with all-you-can-eat steamed oysters, flounder, clam chowder, sides (hush puppies and coleslaw) and beverages, as well as a traditional North Carolina pig pickin'. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

At the end of May, Swansboro hosts the King Mackerel Blue Water Tournament with prizes up to $25,000, and a barbecue cookout for participants. Advance entry fee is $300 per boat.

One Saturday in mid-June, downtown Swansboro hosts Arts by the Sea, where local artists display their arts and crafts amid lots of food booths. Admission and parking are free.

On July 4th, be sure to watch the fireworks show over the river at 9PM, with popcorn and funnel cakes to munch, and entertainment before dusk.

The Mullet Festival, held during the second weekend in October, began as a celebratory event when the bridge over the White Oak River was completed in 1954. Since that year, Swansboro has had an annual celebration with parades, a street carnival, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and lots of seafood, with an emphasis on mullet: grilled, fried, smoked and stewed!

The Friendly City Speckled Trout Tournament is held in early November at Casper's Marina; fishermen are encouraged to weigh their trout alive and release them back into the water.

On Thanksgiving weekend, pull your car up to the riverfront early to watch the Christmas flotilla, as a parade of boats decorated in lights pulls into the harbor after dark.

Through the Looking Glass, 101 Church Street, ☎+1 910-326-3128. Open daily; call for winter hours. Home and garden accessories, perfume, jewellery, candles, Christmas gifts and an excellent selection of wines.

Captain Charlie's Seafood Paradise, 106 Front Street, ☎+1 910-326-4303. Locals claim it serves some of the best fried seafood in the state, and you get a complimentary bowl of down east chowder with every meal.

White Oak River Bistro, 206 West Corbett Avenue, ☎+1 910-326-1696. Open daily in season, closed Tuesdays off-season; 11AM-3PM for lunch, 5PM-10PM for dinner. Located on the banks of the river with spectacular views, serving European cuisine with an emphasis on Italian. Try the stuffed bread (filled with tomatoes, prosciutto, basil and mozzarella) and the homemade desserts. Entrees start from $6.95 (lunch) and $11.95 (dinner).